Airbag device

Abstract

An airbag device 1 is composed of an inflator 2, a bag 3 and an electronic control unit (ECU) 4 created as a single unit as well as a pad 6 which is attached to the steering unit 5. There is connection from the ignition device 8 of the inflator 2 to the circuit board 18 by means of a connector 8a. The connector 8a realizes short-circuiting by means of external shorting member. In assembly operations of the airbag device, the shorting member can be easily removed to release the short-circuiting of the connector 8a. As a result, when attaching the airbag device to the ECU 4 the connector 8a does not occupy excessive space and there is no reduction in the assembly efficiency of the airbag device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An airbag device comprising: an inflator generating gas at time of operation;   an airbag which is deployed by the gas from said inflator;   deceleration detection means for detecting a deceleration in case of a vehicle collision and outputting a detection signal;   an electronic control circuit for determining based on the detection signal from said deceleration detection means whether the vehicle collision has occurred and outputting an operational signal to cause said inflator to operate;   a pad for containing said inflator, said airbag and said electronic control circuit;   connecting member having a plurality of terminals and attached to an end of the electronic control circuit side of a connecting cable transmitting the operational signal to the inflator; and   shorting member for short-circuiting said terminals at least until said terminals are electrically connected to the electronic control circuit, the electrical connection being made by inserting the terminals in attachment holes of a board on which said electronic control circuit is formed.   
     
     
       2. An airbag device comprising: an inflator generating gas at time of operation;   an airbag which is deployed by the gas from said inflator;   deceleration detection means for detecting a deceleration in case of a vehicle collision and outputting a detection signal;   an electronic control circuit for determining based on the detection signal from said deceleration detection means whether the vehicle collision has occurred and outputting an operational signal to cause said inflator to operate;   a housing for housing said electronic control circuit and fixing said inflator and said airbag thereon;   connecting member having a plurality of terminals and attached to an end of the electronic control circuit side of a connecting cable transmitting the operational signal to the inflator, said connecting cable passing through an opening formed at said housing and being pulled out to the vicinity of a board on which said electronic control circuit is formed, said terminals of the connecting member being inserted in attachment holes of said board to maintain electrical conduction with said electronic control circuit; and   shorting member for short-circuiting said terminals at least until said terminals are inserted in said attachment holes of said board.   
     
     
       3. An airbag device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: release means included in said connecting member and for releasing the short-circuiting of said terminals when said terminals are inserted in said board.   
     
     
       4. An airbag device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said release means has a hole portion formed on the side of the attachment holes of said board and releases the short-circuiting of said terminals by hooking said shorting member onto said hole portion when said terminals of said connecting member are inserted in said attachment holes. 
     
     
       5. An airbag device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said release means separates said shorting means from connecting member when said terminals of said connecting member are inserted in said attachment holes, said shorting member being temporarily hold to said connecting member so that said shorting member can separate from said connecting member to release the short-circuiting of said terminals. 
     
     
       6. An airbag device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said release means releases the short-circuiting of said terminals by making said shorting member sliding when said terminals of the connecting member are inserted in said attachment holes. 
     
     
       7. An airbag device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said release means has a release member installed in said connecting member, said release member pushed by said board and moving to release the short-circuiting of said terminals when said terminals of said connecting member are inserted in said attachment holes. 
     
     
       8. An airbag device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said release means is a rotating mechanism for rotating said shorting member and releasing the short-circuiting of said terminals by the rotation of said shorting member when said terminals are inserted in said attachment holes. 
     
     
       9. An airbag device comprising: an inflator generating gas at time of operation;   an airbag which is deployed by the gas from said inflator;   deceleration detection means for detecting a deceleration in case of a vehicle collision and outputting a detection signal;   an electronic control circuit for determining based on the detection signal from said deceleration detection means whether the vehicle collision has occurred and outputting an operational signal to cause said inflator to operate;   a housing for housing said electronic control circuit and fixing said inflator and said airbag thereon;   a member having a plurality of terminals and attached to an end of the electronic control circuit side of a connecting cable transmitting the operational signal to the inflator, said connecting cable passing through an opening formed at said housing and being pulled out to the vicinity of a board on which said electronic control circuit is formed, said terminals of the connecting member being soldered to said board to maintain electrical conduction with said electronic control circuit; and   shorting member for short-circuiting said terminals at least until said terminals are soldered to said board.   
     
     
       10. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: release means established to be independent of said connecting member and for releasing the short-circuiting of said terminals when said terminals of said connecting member are soldered to said board.   
     
     
       11. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least either one of said connecting member or said shorting member include a lock mechanism for connecting said connecting member and said shorting member. 
     
     
       12. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said shorting member has a guard section to guard said terminals when said shorting member is attached with said connecting member. 
     
     
       13. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said connecting member includes an exposure section for said terminals thereof. 
     
     
       14. An airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shorting member is attached to said terminals so that said terminals can not be attached directly to said board when said shorting member is attached thereto, and said terminals are attached to said board only after removing said shorting member. 
     
     
       15. An airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein gap is created between said connecting member and said board. 
     
     
       16. An airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag device is installed in a steering wheel of a vehicle. 
     
     
       17. An airbag device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shorting member is attached to said terminals so that said terminals can not be attached directly to said board when said shorting member is attached thereto, and said terminals are attached to said board only after removing said shorting member. 
     
     
       18. An airbag device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag device is installed in a steering wheel of a vehicle. 
     
     
       19. An airbag device as claimed in claim 2, wherein gap is created between said connecting member and said board. 
     
     
       20. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said shorting member is attached to said terminals so that said terminals can not be attached directly to said board when said shorting member is attached thereto, and said terminals are attached to said board only after removing said shorting member. 
     
     
       21. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the airbag device is installed in a steering wheel of a vehicle. 
     
     
       22. An airbag device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a is created between said connecting member and said board.